Tomorrow could be the hottest day the Isle of Wight has ever seen, according to local forecaster the IW Met Service.
Most areas across the Island are expected to exceed 32°C during the afternoon.
Temperatures will be widely in the mid-30s across the Island, with some locations even climbing into the upper 30s, the forecaster said.
Jamie Russell, of the IW Met Service, said: "Looking at the temperature forecast map (not the heat alert map), we can see 35–36°C becoming widespread across most of the Island. In some built-up locations, particularly across central parts of the Island and around Newport, temperatures could rise as high as 37°C, perhaps even touching 38°C in a few of the hottest spots.
"It should also be noted that back in 2022, when we forecast temperatures of around 37°C, we received a considerable amount of criticism.
"Some accused us of scaremongering, while others pointed to forecasts on weather apps showing much lower temperatures.
"There were also comments suggesting that "it's just summer" or that "we survived 1976 without warnings.", and guess what, it went exactly as expected and recording stations across the Island showed the extremely high temperatures (as expected) in the areas we showed on the map."
The forecaster said the average summer temperature across the Island is typically in the low 20s, but tomorrow is expected to be "significantly hotter" than most Island residents — and many visitors — are accustomed to.
"So, to summarise: if these temperatures are reached, tomorrow would rank among the most exceptional heat events ever recorded on the Isle of Wight", the forecaster said.
"When temperatures reach these levels, the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke increases substantially, particularly for those who spend extended periods outdoors", Jamie added.
"Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, and take extra care of vulnerable people, pets, and wildlife."
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